James darius gulp



(No Model.)

J. D. GULP.

ELECTRICAL TOROH' POE LIGHTING GAS.

Patentd Mar. 2, 1886.

INVENTIIR fizz. Z

W TNLEEEE I UNITED STATES Parana Grates.

JAMES DARIUS GULP, OF SAN FELIPE, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL TURCH FOR LlGl-iTlNG Gi ls.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 336,898, dated March .2, 1886,

Application filed May 6. 1885. Serial No. 164,555. (X model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: ing or terminal electrode, but the connection Be it known that I, JAMES DARIUS CULP, a was made when the induced plate had been citizen of the United States, residing at San separated from the inducing-plate or electri- 55 Felipe, in the county of Santa Clara and State fied non-conductor by contact of the former of California, have invented certain new and with a projecting arm, from which aconductor useful Improvements in Electric Torches for ran to the discharging-electrode. Moreover, Lighting Gas, of which the following specitithe gas or gas-fixture was relied upon to corncation is a full, clear, and exact description. plete the circuit to the ground, and the con do This invention relates more particularly to struction or shape and dimensions of the difa hand implement for lighting gas by means ferent parts of the electrophorus was such of an electric spark, of which a portable electhat it had only a small capacity. The inductric generator forms part. lug-plate was in the form of a cylinder sun Heretofore various implements of this kind rounding a metal rod, which constituted the 65 have been devised, but they have not come sole or ground conductor, and the induced or into general use, probably because they re discharging plate was curved and fitted over quire considerable trouble to operate or (if a one side of the electrified cylinder. In the galvanic battery is used) to keep in order, and present invention the induced or discharging cannot be relied upon under the different conplate is in permanent electrical connection 70 ditions under which they would ordinarily be with the discharging electrode or terminal,

usedand it is unnecessary to employ a projecting The object of the present invention is to arm to be in the way, or an additional contact overcome these difficulties, or enough of them to increase the resistance in the charging-cirto render the implement commercially suc' cuit, and diminish the intensity of the spark, 75 C fulx in order to insure a complete circuit; also, the

2 To this end the invention consists in an elecopposing electrode or terminal opposite that tric torch in which the electrodes or terminals, connected with the induced plate is in elecbetween which the electricity is discharged,are trical connection with the ground through the protected, nearly or quite to the discharginginstrument, and no care is required in order to 80 point, from contact with the gas to be lighted. insure a ground connection. These construc- I find that where a considerable surface is 6X- tions are claimed as new only in connection posed (as it heretofore has been) the illumiwith an electrophorus in which the parts are hating-gas will conduct or carry off the elecsimply brought in contact without being tricity, so as to produce, especially under unrubbed together; also,'the sole, the electrified 8 5 favorable conditions, a silent discharge, or at n0n-conduct0r, and theinduced plate are made least one not having heat enough to produce broad, and preferably flat, (not curved, al-

ignition. though this is less important,) and they are The invention also consists in certain new fastened to or carried by a parallel stiff rod constructions ofparts in the generator. Hereterminating in a handle. This form of elec- 90 tofore it has been customary to employ either trophorus is found to possess large capacity,

0 a galvanic battery, which is not desirable on and to retain its electrification for a long time. account of the consumption of material, or a Pins project from the sole through the elecfriction or induction apparatus having a rctrified or inducing non-conductor to make volving inductor or armature, which is not contact with theinduced plate. Two pins are 95 desirable on account of the necessity of rotatconsidered preferable to one.

ing or turning the said part whenever the The present invention also consists in an apparatus is to beused. An instrument, howelectric torch in which the spanner or fork ever, has been devised, in which an electrophfor turning on the gas is placed in the end of orus was employed, the spark being pro the torch the electrodes or terminals being to) duced by simply moving the induced plate by placed just below it, and also in the combinameans of a lever attached thereto. In this intion, with the electrodes, of a sort of hood, strument the induced plate was not in permawhich extends over the electrode on one side nent electrical connection with the dischargand collects the gas. These arrangements are *it anywhere in close proximity to the burner.

a rivet.

They are also more efficient and useful than those in which the discharging-points are placed at the upper end of the torch without any means whatever of collecting gas, or in which a spanner or fork is not employed.

The invention further comprises certain particular constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth. The following is a description of what is considered the best mode of applying the principle of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a partof this specification.

Figure 1 is a front view of a gas-lighting torch constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a back View; Fig. 3, an edge view; and Fig. 4 a cross'section on line as w, Fig. 2.

The inducing-plate A, of non-conducting material, (preferably hard rubber,) is placed over the metal sole G, which is in the form of a flat plate as well as the inducing-plate A, and both plates are fastened by screws, rivets, or pins a, of metal, to the metallic bar Q. As shown, the screws have the nick in the point, so as to leave the head perfectly plain. This bar carries the plates, and also stiffens or braces them. It terminates in a handle, D, made of or coated with metal, so that when it is held in the hand there is an electrical connection from the pins a and sole 0 to the ground. The induced or discharging plate B, of metal, is carried by the lever E, of non-conducting ma: terial, (wood will answer,) which lever is fulcrumed on the pin F, fitting in cars on the bar Q. A spiral compression-spring, to, acting upon the tail of lever E, tends to press the induced plate B against the inducing-plate O. The inducing-plate B is in permanent electrical connection with the discharging electrode or terminal k by means of the wire 0, the upper end of which, as shown, constit-utes the said electrode. The wire is embedded in the rod G, of insulating material, except at the lower end, and also at the discharging-point opposite the electrode m, in order to permit the spark to pass, and even here it is exposed only on one side. (See Fig. 4.) The opposing electrode at is also'protected from contact with the illuminating-gas by the block h, of insulating material, except at the outer end. The wire 0 fits loosely in a hole in the pin K, and is coiled between said pin and where it enters the insulating rod, in order to increase its flexibility. The insulating-rod G is fastened to the frame of the torch in any suitable way. As shown, an ear, 1', on the sole 0 fits into a slit in the lower end of the rod, and is there fastened by From the upper end of the sole pro ject the rods i 13, fastened to or in one piece with the sole. The upper ends of these rods are connected together by the spanner or fork P, for turning on the gas, and also by the hood J, at one side of the electrodes, for collecting the gas and retaining it in contact with the discharging-points.

As shown, the barst' i form an electrical connection between the sole 0 and the electrode m; but it is not essential that the electrical connection should be made in this way. The electrode at is in the form of a screw tapped through the bar 2', so that it can be adjusted with reference to the electrode 70.

For use the plate A is electrified by rubbing with a silk handkerchief or otherwise. To enable this to be done, the induced plate B can be removed by taking out the pin F. \Vhen the plate B rests upon the non-conducting plate A, it is in electrical connection with the sole 0 through the pins or screws a, and is charged with electricity of opposite name to that with which the plate A is charged. When the induced plate B is lifted away by pressing upon the tail of lever E, the charge, being freed from the attraction of the charge of plate A, passes by way of the wire 0, electrodes k m, bars i t", sole 0, bar Q, handle D, and body of the user to ground. In passing between the electrodes a spark is produced which will ignite the gas if the upper end of the torch is placed in'proximity to the gasburnerafter the gas has been turned on. The open side of the hood J should be turned toward the burner, so as to collect in issuing gas. The gas can be'turned on by the spanner or fork P, or by other means. The electric igniting devices do not interfere with the ready use of the spanner, nor the latter with the ready operation of the former. After the spark has been produced in the manner described the lever E is released, and the spring 10 returns the plate B, when it receives a new charge.

It is obvious that modifications may be made in details without departing from the spirit of the invention and parts of the invention be used separately.

1 claim the new improvements herein described, all and several, to wit:

1. In an electric igniting apparatus, and in combinationwith an electric generator or source of electricity, the electrodes or terminals, between which the electricity is discharged, protected by an envelope to the discharging-points from contact with the gas to be lighted, to prevent dissipation of the charge by the gas, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with discharging electrodes or terminals of an electric igniting device, of an electrophorus having the induced plate carried by a lever, and awire embedded in a rod of insulating material and forming a constant or permanent electrical connection between said plate and one of said electrodes, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the dischargin IOI) electrodes or terminals of an igniting device, and an electrophorus having the induced plate carried by a lever and arranged parallel to the length of the torch, of an electrical connection between one electrode or terminal and the sole or ground conductor of the electrophorus, and a second connection between the other electrode or terminal and the induced plate of the electrophorus, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the elongated frame having a handle at one end and the electrodes or terminals at the other end of said frame, of the sole and inducing non-conductor, both in the form of plates attached to said frame parallel to the length thereof, the induced conductor, also in the form of a plate placed directly outside said nonconductor, so that it may rest against it, the lever carrying said induced conductor, and the permanent electrical connections between the sole and induced conductor and the respective elcctrodes or terminals, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the stiff rod provided with a handle, the sole, and the inducing-plate carried thereby, the metal pins or screw connecting said parts and forming a conductor for putting the induced plate in electrical connection with the sole, the lever fulcrumed on said rod, and the induced plate carried bysaid lever, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in an electric torch or igniter, with the discharging electrodes or terminals and the frame or rods at the end of which said electrodes are placed, of the electrophorus at the opposite end of the implement, formed of a sole and inducing HOD-CO11- ductor, both in the form of plates, and an inerator of a gaslighting torch, of the two bars,

the spanner or fork connecting their upper ends, and the discharging electrodes placed just below the said spanner in the space be tween said bars, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in an electric torch or igniter, with the discharging electrodes or terminals, of the hood inclosing one side of said electrodes or terminals, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the electrophorus, of the dischargingelectrodes connected therewith and protected by an envelope from contact with the gas to be ignited, except at the dischargingpoints, substantially as described.

10. The herein-described electric torch or igniter, comprising an elongated frame, an electrophorus at the lower end thereof having an induced plate carried by a lever, a spanner or fork at the upper end, and the discharging electrodes or terminals, also at the upper end, and connected, one electrode with the induced plate, and the other with the sole or ground conductor of the electrophorus, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witneases.

, J AMES DABIUS CULP.

itnesses:

P. T. VVALL, WM. H. SMITH. 

